This was a story I’d seen in my childhood days… I remember it a lot and recently got it off google…
One cold night, as an Arab sat in his tent, a camel gently thrust his nose under the flap and looked in. “Master,” he said, “let me put my nose in your tent. It’s cold and stormy out here.” “By all means,” said the Arab, “and welcome” as he turned over and went to sleep.
A little later the Arab awoke to find that the camel had not only put his nose in the tent but his head and neck also. The camel, who had been turning his head from side to side, said, “I will take but little more room if I place my forelegs within the tent. It is difficult standing out here.” “Yes, you may put your forelegs within,” said the Arab, moving a little to make room, for the tent was small.
Finally, the camel said, “May I not stand wholly inside? I keep the tent open by standing as I do.” “Yes, yes,” said the Arab. “Come wholly inside. Perhaps it will be better for both of us.” So the camel crowded in. The Arab with difficulty in the crowded quarters again went to sleep. When he woke up the next time, he was outside in the cold and the camel had the tent to himself.
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Lets take the case of a chain smoker. Ask him if he recalls the first time he smoked a cigarette, whether he ever thought or planned to be a chain smoker. Its really quite unlikely.
An addiction is just like the camel in this story. It had started with just the nose, hadn’t it? And eventually, the addiction is in one’s life like the camel is in one’s tent. The addict, like the Arab, is out of the tent – out of control of his own life. Some would still defend and justify themselves that being out of the tent is just their personal inclination. But the camel is no longer asking for permission – the Arab is no longer the decision maker – it is no longer a choice.
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Smoking is only a well-beaten example, anyone can be addicted to anything (knowingly or maybe even unknowingly!) for example even to most ordinary things taken for granted like talking ill of others. Maybe addiction is too strong a word, it can just be a habit, but there’s just a thin line.
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I vaguely recall some forwarded email about a habit:
It is hard to get rid of a HABIT.
Get rid of H, and
A BIT remains.
Get rid of A,
BIT remains.
Get rid of B…
IT remains!
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The ones who are into any habit rarely acknowledge it. They want to deny it or say they’re in control of it. What are the indicators that a habit is healthy and is not becoming an addiction?
Maybe that one is not starting to get secretive about it – not avoiding doing it openly. When one is not feeling defensive about it. Does not feel irritated when questioned.
Esp the last one, for example when I get irritated when I’m typing some article then I know that I’m on the verge of addiction, its no longer healthy!
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